Marcel Breuer design exhibition – in pictures

At 18, Breuer became one of the youngest students at the radical arts and crafts school Bauhaus in Weimar, and changed the face of furniture design with his use of industrial materials such as steel tubes and moulded plywood. His B3 chair from 1925, made from extruded nickel-plated tubular steel, was renamed Wassily in 1960 as a tribute to Kandinsky, and is still produced today by American furniture company Knoll. Photograph: Courtesy Galerie Fiedler

Breuer's fascination with tubular steel was allegedly inspired by the lightness and strength of his new Adler bicycle. Above, a set of nesting tables dating from 1927. Photograph: Stéphane Briolant/Galerie Mandalian-Paillard

The exhibition is held by the Villa Noailles in Hyères – a resort on the French Riviera – with 30 items of furniture and documents from public and private collections around Europe, which give an idea of the scope of Breuer's work across furniture design and architecture. Above, a chaise longue, dating from 1932. Photograph: Lothaire Hucki/Villa Noailles

In October 1935, Breuer came to England and was asked to design furniture for Isokon – the Isometric Unit Construction company. He was told that the British were too traditional to buy metal furniture, and advised to work in wood instead. Above, an Isokon chair from 1936.
Photograph: Lothaire Hucki/Villa Noailles

Breuer also designed a plywood version of his aluminium lounge chair.
Photograph: Galerie Mandalian-Paillard/Lothaire Hucki/Villa Noailles

Marcel Breuer Sun and Shadow is at Villa Noailles, Monté Noailles, Hyères, France, until 29 September
Photograph: Lothaire Hucki/Villa Noailles